Synonyms of deceptive

deceptive

adjective

di-ˈsep-tiv 

1

as in misleading

tending or having power to deceive

in his deceptive answer about the vehicle's history, the salesman said that the used car had never been hit by another car

Synonyms & Similar Words

• misleading
• false
• deceitful
• deceiving
• incorrect
• specious
• ambiguous
• delusive
• beguiling
• fallacious
• inaccurate
• fraudulent
• delusory
• subtle
• deluding
• crooked
• cunning
• dishonest
• treacherous
• sneaky
• trick
• slick
• wily
• tricky
• puzzling
• perplexing
• artful
• duplicitous
• crafty
• shifty
• underhanded
• lying
• shady
• artificial
• wrong
• sly
• untrustworthy
• mendacious
• devious
• subtile
• confounding
• counterfeit
• distracting
• untruthful
• underhand
• insidious
• foxy
• forged
• fake
• evasive
• faithless
• bewildering
• guileful
• perfidious
• hypocritical
• bogus
• spurious
• trickish
• phony
• sham
• insincere
• ambidextrous
• knavish
• feigned
• dissembling
• circuitous
• fast
• equivocal
• sneaking
• jive
• defrauding
• backhanded
• double-dealing
• two-faced
• left-handed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• straightforward
• forthright
• direct
• plain
• nondeceptive
• open
• frank
• straight
• candid
• outspoken
• aboveboard
• illuminating
• explanatory
• revealing
• truthful
• plainspoken
• revelatory
• clarifying
• openhearted
• honest
• trustworthy
• free-spoken
• foursquare
• elucidative

2

as in fraudulent

given to or marked by cheating and deception

a mail-order firm indicted for deceptive business practices

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fraudulent
• shady
• dishonest
• crooked
• false
• duplicitous
• fast
• rogue
• shifty
• underhanded
• underhand
• bent
• artful
• sharp
• deceiving
• guileful
• deceitful
• treacherous
• unscrupulous
• unethical
• subtle
• double-dealing
• unprincipled
• cunning
• unconscionable
• delusive
• beguiling
• slick
• wily
• slippery
• sly
• crafty
• sneaky
• insidious
• tricky
• cagey
• delusory
• devious
• furtive
• foxy
• perfidious
• deluding
• trickish
• defrauding
• sneaking

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• honest
• straight
• ethical
• honorable
• decent
• conscientious
• scrupulous
• just
• upright
• aboveboard
• straightforward
• forthright

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of deceptive

This measure is a craven, deceptive, regressive, and destructive push to gut local control and services, and hand power to a barely accountable central government in Tallahassee. — Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Sun Sentinel, 9 July 2026

Alice Halsey and Skywalker Hughes, who play sisters Laura and Mary Ingalls, lull viewers of the new series’ premiere into a deceptive calm with their folksy balladeering. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 9 July 2026

The state agency said clinic staffers had clients sign a personal injury waiver, which the commission said was unenforceable, against public policy and deceptive and dishonest. — Ashley Hiruko, ProPublica, 8 July 2026

Bartůňková and Krejčíková share finesse in the front of the court as well as deceptive power, with Bartůňková’s excellent spot-serving giving her a platform and Krejčíková’s ability to change rhythm at will trying to destabilize it. — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 2 July 2026